Mancini: ‘Italy played well, Raspadori had a knock, now for France’ | OneFootball

Roberto Mancini reveals why Giacomo Raspadori went off at half-time in Italy’s 4-1 win away to Turkiye. ‘Now we will try to have our say in France.’

The coach was already feeling the pressure after the 2-0 defeat to Belgium on Friday and made eight changes to the starting line-up.

It certainly paid off with the best first half performance that Azzurri fans have seen in several years, surging into an early 3-0 lead in Bursa with Alessandro Bastoni, Davide Frattesi and Kayode goals.

After a Turkish fightback with Baris Alper Yilmaz and a lucky escape for offside, Francesco Pio Esposito sealed the 4-1 result.

Mancini content with Italy performance

BURSA, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Italy, looks on before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

“We were on a pitch where it had been raining for a whole day and it was only natural to expect a response from Turkiye,” Mancini told RAI Sport.

“Everyone played a great game. Raspadori went off with a problem, we were worried that we might have to take him off after five minutes in the second half, so we substituted him at the break.

“The team pushed up, kept the ball, moved it around well. Raspadori did what we asked, he had a good game.”

It was night and day from the kind of performance seen against Belgium, with quick one-touch passing and the kind of football that Mancini has been promising since his return to the bench.

BURSA, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Michael Kayode of Italy celebrates scoring his team’s third goal with teammate Sandro Tonali during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

Italy will now face France in Paris on Friday October 2, so which of these two very different teams will we see?

“Now we have to focus on the next match, try to recover our strength, we’ve got fresh legs at home and will try to have our say in Paris.”

Nicolò Zaniolo was ruled out by a muscular injury, but 10 players didn’t even make the trip to Turkiye amid fitness concerns, including Nicolò Barella, Gianluca Mancini, Diego Coppola, all of whom had started against Belgium, Honest Ahanor, Eddy Kouadio, Samuele Ricci, Samuele Inacio, Mohamed Ali Zoma and Daniel Maldini.

Francesco Pio Esposito celebrates with his brother Sebastiano Esposito during Turkiye vs. Italy in the Nations League (@azzurri)

There were debuts for Sebastiano Esposito, Kayode and Matteo Ruggeri, all in the starting XI.

“Considering it was their first game, they did well, so congratulations to them,” concluded Mancini.

France earned a 1-0 victory away to Belgium thanks to Michael Olise’s 89th-minute goal, so Italy catch the Belgians on three points.

Mancini also spoke to Sky Sport Italia and gave a little more information on his approach.

“I am satisfied, we had a really good approach on a difficult pitch that was muddy. I am very happy for these lads, as they deserve it,” Mancini told Sky Sport Italia.

BURSA, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Baris Alper Ylmaz of Turkiye celebrates scoring his team’s first goal against Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

“We asked the strikers to start wide, Sebastiano on the left and Raspa to cut in behind Pio, so Kayode could attack down the right. It went well, naturally Turkiye responded in the second half and we had a few difficulties.

“Kayode was on his debut, so it wasn’t easy, but he did very well quite aside from the goal.

“This victory is worth the same as a defeat to Belgium, it counts for nothing. What really counts is that the lads realised they can do good things, there is a long road ahead, we need to focus now for the next match.”